A system includes an abrasion component containing an abrasion pad configured to clean a faying surface of a nutplate and a shaft attached to the abrasion pad and configured to rotate the shaft and the abrasion pad during cleaning of the nutplate, which includes abrading the faying surface with the abrasion pad. The system further includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and the pressure applicator, which is configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplate such that the faying surface is capable of contacting the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate, and apply pressure to the nutplate such that the nutplate contacts the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate. Furthermore, the abrasion component is configured to rotate the abrasion pad within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during the cleaning of the nutplate.

A hand-held machine tool, in particular a sanding machine, including a rod-type handle element for the user to grip and a processing head which is moveably mounted on the handle element by means of a joint assembly. The processing head has an electric drive motor for driving a tool holder provided for holding a processing tool and a speed-reducing gearbox between the drive motor and the tool holder, the gearbox being designed to achieve a reduction in speed of an output of the drive motor relative to a speed of the tool holder. The drive motor is a brushless motor and a power supply system for the drive motor is arranged at a distance from the drive motor on the handle element, the power supply system being connected to the drive motor by means of a cable arrangement.

The present invention relates to the field of floor treatment machines for scrubbing, polishing, sanding or burnishing floors, and in particular machines in which one or more driven rotatable work heads (such as scrubbing brushes) are provided for agitating the floor surface. In one aspect there is provided a walk-behind floor treatment machine comprising: a base portion provided with and supported by at least one rotatable work head for treating the floor, a handle portion for steering or guiding the machine along a working direction of travel and adapted to be pivotable with respect to the base portion, drive means for rotating the work head with respect to the base portion, floor-engaging wheel means for supporting the handle portion, the wheel means having a substantially transverse axis of rotation so as to permit travel in the working direction, the wheel means being coupled to the base portion by a linkage which permits vertical travel of the base portion and associated work head or heads with respect to the wheel means, but which provides transverse constraint to limit or prevent yawing of the base portion with respect to the wheel means, wherein a lower region of the handle portion is pivotably connected to the wheel means via an articulated joint, the arrangement being such that the handle portion may be manipulated to act on the wheel means so as to yaw steer the wheel means about a yaw axis defined by the floor-engaging contact of the wheel means, the yawing of the wheel means causing the base portion to yaw in response to yaw steering. The wheel means may comprise a wheel, roller or ball, preferably a single wheel, roller or ball, disposed at a lower region of the handle portion. The wheel means preferably has a fixed transverse axis of rotation.

The present invention relates to a floor treatment apparatus (1) and method for treating a floor. The apparatus comprises: •—a housing (10) comprising a top plate (11), and •—a drive system comprising: •—a transmission (21) arranged above the top plate (11), the transmission (21) comprising a transmission shaft (22) passing through an aperture in the top plate (11), •—a motor (23) attached to the transmission (21), the motor (23) arranged above the top plate (11), •—a rotatable drive plate (24) attached to the transmission shaft (22) and positioned below the top plate (11), and •—a coupling member (25) attached to a bottom of the drive plate (24) and arranged to couple a treatment member (26) for treating a floor surface, by engagement on said floor surface, to the drive plate (24), wherein the floor treatment apparatus comprises an open-ended tubular casing extending from a central aperture in the drive plate (24) through the housing (10) to an outlet opening (15) of the housing (10) to which a fluid conduit is connectable, wherein the casing is arranged for a fluid to flow through it.

A method is disclosed for treating or maintaining a hard surface comprising a stone or stone-like material, the method comprising treatment of the surface with a flexible pad, in the presence of abrasive particles, bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the hard surface, wherein the abrasive particles comprise diamond particles, and the treatment is performed in the absence of an effective amount of crystallization agent on the contact surface. The treatment is performed on a substantially regular basis, such as daily, weekly or monthly, and the treatment is performed using a pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven webs of fibers. A tool for use in the method is also provided, as well as a floor-surfacing machine comprising such a tool and a method for manufacturing such a tool. Furthermore, methods for treating or maintaining hard, smooth surfaces such as wood, polymer material, lacquer, linoleum, gelcoat, glass and automotive enamel are disclosed.

A floor polishing or grinding pad assembly is provided. In one aspect, a polishing or grinding pad assembly employs a fibrous pad, a reinforcement layer or ring, and multiple floor-contacting disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a central hole through which the fibrous pad is accessible and the fibrous pad at the hole has a linear dimension greater than a linear dimension of one side of the adjacent reinforcement layer. In yet another aspect, at least one of the floor-contacting disks has an angle offset from that of a base surface of the disk, the fibrous pad and/or the reinforcement layer. A further aspect employs a smaller set of disks alternating between and/or offset from a larger set of the disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a wavy or undulating internal edge shape.

A floor polishing or grinding pad assembly is provided. In one aspect, a polishing or grinding pad assembly employs a fibrous pad, a reinforcement layer or ring, and multiple floor-contacting disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a central hole through which the fibrous pad is accessible and the fibrous pad at the hole has a linear dimension greater than a linear dimension of one side of the adjacent reinforcement layer. In yet another aspect, at least one of the floor-contacting disks has an angle offset from that of a base surface of the disk, the fibrous pad and/or the reinforcement layer. A further aspect employs a smaller set of disks alternating between and/or offset from a larger set of the disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a wavy or undulating internal edge shape.

A concrete grinder has a rotating planetary gearbox with counter rotating tooling plates attached. The planetary gearbox is powered directly from a trowel gearbox output shaft, which is connected to a center bore of the planetary gearbox. As the planetary gearbox rotates, tooling shafts are forced to counter rotate because the input shaft of the planetary gearbox is connected to a fixed pulley or sprocket. The planetary gearbox is sealed to keep water, dust or slurry from entering.

A drive plate attachable to a driven shaft of a floor-finishing machine has a central circular recess and a plurality of radially extending pockets having beveled side edges formed in a surface thereof. Located in the pocket is a rectangular stabilizing bar. The abrasive tool includes a plate sized and shaped to fit into the pockets when inserted from the central recess and having a groove formed therein for receiving the stabilizing bar. On the surface of the tool plate opposite the groove are abrasive members.

A hand-held machine tool, in particular a sanding machine, including a rod-type handle element for the user to grip and a processing head which is moveably mounted on the handle element by means of a joint assembly. The processing head has an electric drive motor for driving a tool holder provided for holding a processing tool and a speed-reducing gearbox between the drive motor and the tool holder, the gearbox being designed to achieve a reduction in speed of an output of the drive motor relative to a speed of the tool holder. The drive motor is a brushless motor and a power supply system for the drive motor is arranged at a distance from the drive motor on the handle element, the power supply system being connected to the drive motor by means of a cable arrangement.